The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1887-02-24

.lremember splendid feat Of arms.
said an old Senator today AT the
time Gen. Stoneman made hi, awful
fiascO while on araid inside of the Con-
federate lines, and surrendered his en-
tire outfit, including himself. to i force
inferior in numbers. made up princi-
pally OF the hollyhock, saSsafraS, gin
seng. and hooppole forces under the
command of the Falstaff of the Rebell-
ion-Howell Cobb-therc was perform
ed feat Of arms by 4 Young soldier
Of East Tennessee which was lnparal-
lcled in the history oftle War on either
side. and one that called forth the
applause of even Longstrec, and the
veterans he commanded. Finding
himself. as he supposed. entirely sur
rounded by superior force. Stoneman
determined to surrender. though for
forms sake, he concluded 10 hold
council with his regiment and brigade
commanders. Among those command
ing regiment in Stoneman' force wa,
young Jim Brownlow. son OF Gov
Brownlow, the fighting parson. When
young Brownlow appeared before his
commander. being the Youngest regi-
mental commander present. GEN
Stoneman informed him that he intend
| ed to surrender, and asked him what
he thought of it.
Young Brownlow objected. and said
there was no necessity for it. He was
oyerruled. however, and then he de-
manded the privilege of cutting his
way out with his regiment. if he could.
for he and his men knew that if they
were captured they could expect no
mercy. for It's would be treated Is
traitors to H. nth. However. he was
old to cut Ii, way out il he could
Sweeping Iii, ..sbel circle with his field
glass he thought he could detect Il weak
place in it III one point. Riding up To
the head of his regiment he announced
to his men that they must either cu,
their way out or starvc to death in Il
Rebel prison, and asked them to de-
eide at once what they would DO.
With shout they demanded to be
/
to draw sabres and follow him. like Il
thunderbolt the tho usand mountaineer>
hurled themselves straight at the weak
spot; but they were repulsed. Again
they tried it, aud again they were hurl-
ed back. Forming his men again for
the third time, the fearless young
leader told them that there must be no
more recoiling; that they must get out
or die. Once more the charge was
sounded. and straight rs an arrow
young Brownlow hurled himself and
his men ut the Rebel line and broke it
as whirlwind,
Longstreet came mp just as the first
charge was repulsed. and saw the whole
affair from beginning to finish. He
asked who the Union leader was. and
was told. Then he inquired if Col.
Brownlow had been educated at West
Point. He was answered in the Sega-
tive, when he said: That young man
is natural soldier. and that i the
finest feat of arms / ever witnessed.
ANY regiment may break through an
encircling line on the first charge and
thus get away. but to be repnlsed twice
and still persevere. and succeed in the
third effort, isa feat almost unparalleled
in the history of war;. The story cf
that days gallant action will be remem-
bered and rehearsed in the mountains
OF East Tennessee as long as the mem
ory OF the great Rebellion shall be pre-
served among men. Col. Brownlow
was chip of the old block. sure. -
Washington Letter in Indianapolis
| Journal